SPECIAL REPORT
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MIDLOTHIAN – An alleged ISIS sympathizer from Midlothian is facing charges for international terrorism, after reportedly delivering bomb materials to an undercover FBI agent he thought was a terrorist, according to the Dallas Express.
John Michael Garza Jr., 21, is facing a federal charge for international terrorism after providing money and bomb components to individuals he believed were ISIS supporters, the Department of Justice announced Dec. 29
“ISIS’s poisonous ideology must be ripped out root and stem, anyone who tries to commit violence on ISIS’s behalf will be found, arrested, and prosecuted,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi in a press release. “You cannot hide from us.”
Garza appeared before a federal magistrate judge on Dec. 23, with a probable cause and detention hearing set for Dec. 30.
If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould said this operation used “vigilant observation and swift action” to stop a potentially “devastating outcome.”
“The increasing threats of harm and destruction in our country made by those aligned with violent ideologies must be stopped,” Raybould said in the release.
“We will continue to take prompt action against those attempting to carry out alleged terrorist missions.”
NETWORKING FOR ISIS
An undercover employee of the New York Police Department noticed a social media account following pro-ISIS accounts and commenting on a pro-ISIS post in mid-October this year, according to the release. They later found this was Garza.
The undercover NYPD member engaged him, and he described himself as a 21-year-old Mexican-American living in Texas.
They continued speaking throughout November and December.
During this time, Garza said he “ascribed to the ISIS ideology” and shared multiple “official ISIS media releases.”
He paid small amounts of cryptocurrency to the undercover NYPD member during this time, thinking he was supporting ISIS causes buying guns and other materials. Garza also allegedly shared a video of a suicide bombing and an instructional bomb-making video.
Garza allegedly began telling the contact of his plans to buy materials for explosives. He planned to meet with a second individual, who he thought was an ISIS supporter, but was really an FBI special agent, on Dec. 22.
When they met, Garza reportedly handed “several explosive components” to the agent, then explained how to mix them and surround them with nails. He offered to send the agent a bomb-making video.
Soon after the meeting, law enforcement agents arrested Garza.
“The FBI worked alongside our law enforcement partners to quickly arrest an individual who intended to provide bomb making materials to a foreign terrorist organization,” said FBI-Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock.
THE INVESTIGATION
FBI-Dallas and the NYPD led this investigation, with help from FBI-New York, the Dallas Police Department, the Midlothian Police Department, and the Euless Police Department, according to the release.
“The threats of terrorism and extremist violence against our nation are still very real,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch in the release.
“The NYPD remains committed to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling these networks at their source before they can reach their murderous ends.”
Tisch promised anyone who risks American lives will face prosecution, and “be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
A month prior, Mohammad Dawood Alokozay, an Afghan national living in Fort Worth, allegedly threatened to bomb the city, as The Dallas Express reported at the time. He faced federal charges for sending an interstate threat.
“Let this serve as a warning to those who plan to conduct attacks against the United States on behalf of terrorist organizations,” said FBI Director Kash Patel in the release.
“You will be brought to justice.”
